The Alligator Alley Incident: The Burn

On the 24th of January, 2002, Wildlife Refuge staff conducted a prescribed burn on 852 acres of refuge land, near mile marker 85, on the north side of Interstate 75 known locally as Alligator Alley. The day was clear, and weather remained in prescription throughout the course of the burn. The burn took place under a plan approved three months prior by the Division of Forestry, and was carried out with personnel and equipment from a nearby national preserve, the Inter-agency Prescribed Fire Training Center, Division of Forestry, and the Department of Environmental Protection.

The burn was carried out with no unexpected incidents. Smoke was carried north of I-75, and staff leaving the scene in the evening reported that the roadway was clear of smoke. In addition warning signs, which had been placed along the road for the burn were left in place overnight.